Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1923 - Mar 1924)

March 8, 1924 EXHIBITORS HERALD 39 Illegal to Pad C. O. D. Film Shipment Charges Postal Official Rules Plan of Collecting Bills Not Permitted It is illegal for a film company, making C. O. D. shipment of film or any other commodity to an exhibitor, to include in the C. O. D. charges, any unpaid balance due the film company for service or film, which the film company may feel the exhibitor owes, nor is it legal to add to the C. O. D. charges for any other reason. This interesting point came up when a southern exhibitor wrote the Herald condemning certain film companies operating in a number of territories for indulging in this practice. His letter in part follows: "From time to time I have heard that film companies shipping films C. O. D. will add some real or fancied charge to the value of the contents of the package, and make collection. "It will interest exhibitors, and film exchanges as well, to know that the government does not permit any one of its branches to be used as a collection agency, and where this added charge is not part of the present shipment, or done with the consent of the consignee, it is an attempt to defraud, and if reported to the 3rd assistant Post Master General, will be prosecuted." A representative of the Her.\ld interviewed Assistant Postmaster Scheel of Chicago, and obtained his opinion on tlie subject. Mr. Scheel said: "The theatre owner who wrote you on that subject was entirely correct in all his statements as far as the illegality of the practice is concerned. However, with all the millions of pieces of mail handled by the United States postal system daily it is extremely difficult to apprehend the occasional violator. In fact, unless the violation it, immediately reported to the postal authorities, it is nearly impossible. The best possible solution of such a situation would be for the exhibitor who receives such treatment to immediately break his contract with the film company, report the violalion to the authorities and see that it is investigated. An exhibitor would be entirely within the law in hre.iJcing his contract under such circumstances." Small Hope for Repeal Of State Censor Law (Special to Exhibitors Herald) _ ALBANY. N. Y., Feb. 26.— There is little likelihood that the censorship law in this state will be repealed this year. Even exhibitors at the state capitol during the past week, working for the passage of the bill, admitted the fact. A careful count of the assembly, which is Republican, and in which the big fight will be staged, fails to show the necessary votes to insure passage. Up to the present time no individual or organization has requested a hearing on the bill, which is still in committee in both houses. Undoubtedly the bill as introduced in the senate by Majority Leader Walker will be reported out first and go to a vote as its passage in the upper house is assured. Musicians' Walkout Adjusted INDIANAPOLIS. IND.— F. J. Reml.nisch announces that the walkout of musicians, operators and stage hands at the Lincoln Square theatre, which involved the Manhattan. Gem, Irving. Lenwood and Gayety theatres, all under the management of Rembusch, has been adjusted. More Effective Censorship Sought by National League Inevitable Legal Regulation Measure Is Introduced in Kentucky Legislature^Governor Opposes Bills Increasing State Expenses The germ of dissatisfaction, so prevalent in the air at this period of the year, has invaded the reform element, which now threatens to do everything in motion pictures but put up the money for production, distribution and exhibition. In Chicago a National Censorship League has been organized for the expressed purpose of making "censorship of motion pictures more effective by its application to film productions before they have been nationally advertised and booked." Chicago Paster Says Some Control Necessary The Rev. Frederick C. Grant, Trinity Episcopal church, Chicago,, says, in commenting on the movement : "There is no doubt in my mind that a considerable amount of crime and social anarchy at the present time can be traced directly to the motion pictures. It is not to be expected that an industry whose sole motive is commercial gain is going to maintain very high standards for the protection of the community and especially for our young people. Something must be done to exercise control of their subjects, presentation and publicity." According to plans, the National Board of Review, which the League says is largely dominated by film producers and distributors, will be asked to permit League members to "sit in" on all previews of pictures. Further, the League, which claims thai prominent men and women and civic, social and religious organizations of the country will be enlisted in the movement, has as one of its objects the prosecution of exhibitors, under local laws, who present pictures or display advertising in violation of such statutes. Hill Has Official Post Wycliffe A. Hill, former scenario writer and until recently connected with Popular Motion Picture Productions, a Chicago company, two members of which have just been indicted on a charge of irregular practices, is campaign manager for the Form American League Of Freelance Authors Charging that closed monopoly exists in the scenario field, which operates in favor of a few authors who are supplying ninety per cent of the screen stories that are produced, one hundred freelance authors have joined in the incorporation of the "American League of Freelance Authors," which will have its national headquarters in Chicago in the Capitol building. Short story and scenario writers all over the country will be asked to co-operate in a national campaign to break the alleged monopoly which is declared to be keeping the names of the new writers off the screen, and which is also accused of being responsible for "an epidemic of immoral, censorable, and mediocre films which have aroused the antagonism of Civic, Social and Religious organizations everywhere." The support of the National Censorship League, whose executive offices are also located in Chicago, will be sought by the writer's organization, in its campaign, it is stated. League. Hill's idea of motion pictures is set forth in the following statement by him: ''We believe that the indiscriminate use of fire arms, holdups, the kidnaping and seduction of young girls, the violation of homes, domestic discord, race and class hatred, and a general breaking down of the morals of the coming generation, are a direct result of the epidemic of 'two gun men,' 'crook.' 'flapper,' 'jazz,' 'divorce,' 'dope,' 'sheik.' 'vamp,* and other films of the kind that have been shown." Perennial Censorship Bill Up in Kentucky (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LEXL\GTON. KY.. Feb. 26.— It wouldn't and couldn't be a legislative session in the state without one or more bills to flimflam the public in the matter of motion picture censorship, and as usual the inevitable censorship bill has been introduced before the 1924 session of the Kentucky general assembly. However. Gov. Fields is refusing to sign any bills that will increase state expense through appropriation, while there are a great many legislators who don't believe that there is any need of censoring pictures, feeling that that is either done by the exhibitors, or by the directors, while most of the pictures shown in Kentucky have been previously passed by censor boards in other sections. The present bill was offered by Hiram Brock, of Harlan, whose similar bill was killed in the senate in 1922. His bill would create a board of three censors, under the State Department of Education, this board's business being to see that no films of a harmful nature are shown, and to permit only those of "a moral, educational, amusing or harmless character." The censors would receive $3,000 a year each, and would be appointed by the governor, one to be suggested by the State Federation of Women's Clubs, and one by the Kentucky Educational Association. The fee would be $2..50 for the first 1.000 feet and $2 for each additional 1.000 feet censored. Fines of $100 to $1,000 would be provided for failure to exhibit non-censored pictures. Each censored film would bear an Official Stamp of .Approval. Brock even suggests how the stamp shall be made up, offering cuts of boys or girls with school books in hand. Ladies, too. T. N. T. March 29, Astor